Scouting/10 Essentials

10 Scout Outdoor Essentials

The Boy Scout Handbook says the 10 Outdoor Essentials are:

1. Pocketknife
2. First-aid kit
3. Extra clothing
4. Rain gear
5. Flashlight
6. Trail food
7. Water
8. Matches and/or a fire starter
9. Sun protection
10. Trail maps and compass

Scout Outdoor Essentials by Boys Life

They’re called “essentials” for a reason. Every packing list starts with these 10 items.

1. A pocketknife or multitool can be handy in a wide variety of situations. It’s useful for tasks as large as building an emergency shelter or lighting a campfire with poor fuel, or as small as repairing a damaged backpack. Keep you knife sharp and clean, and don’t forget to first earn your Whittling Chip (for older Cub Scouts) or Totin’ Chip (for Boy Scouts).
2. A first-aid kit can be a lifesaver. Literally. A few items will allow you to treat scratches, blisters and other minor injuries. They should also allow you to provide initial care while waiting for help for more serious injuries.
3. Bring extra clothing to match the weather. Multiple layers are better than a single massive jacket, because layered clothing is adaptable to a wide range of temperatures.
4. Rain gear is very important. Rain can come in a hurry, and getting your clothes drenched is more than just uncomfortable, it can lead to hypothermia, a potentially fatal condition.
5. A flashlight, headlamp or a rugged penlight is important for finding your way in the dark. Bring extra batteries, too.
6. Trail food is good for maintaining your energy. Bring more than you think you’ll need in case you get stuck (or lost) in the woods.
7. Water can prevent dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Use a lightweight, unbreakable container with a secure lid.
8. Matches and/or a fire starter may be used to light fires for heat, or for signaling for help. Store matches or lighters in resealable plastic bags.
9. Sun protection might include sunblock, sunglasses, lip balm and a wide-brimmed hat.
10. A map and compass are probably the most important tools you can carry in case you get lost.

Keeping Clean

Here are some hygiene items you may want to pack, depending on the outing:

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Soap
• Comb
• Waterless hand cleaner
• Small towel
• Washcloth
• Toilet paper
• Trowel for digging cathole latrines

Cooking and Eating

Here are some cooking and eating items you may want to pack, depending on the outing:

• Large plastic cereal bowl or kitchen storage bowl
• Spoon
• Cup or insulated mug
• Water treatment system
• Backpacking stove with fuel
• Large pot and lid (2.5- or 3-quart size)
• Small pot and lid (1.5- or 2-quart size)
• Lightweight frying pan (10 to 12 inches in diameter)
• For melting snow, add 1 large pot and lid (6 to 10 quarts)
• Hot-pot tongs

Extras

Here are some extras you may want to pack, depending on the outing:

• Watch
• Camera
• Notebook
• Pen or pencil
• Sunglasses
• Small musical instrument
• Swimsuit
• Gloves
• Whistle
• Nylon cord
• Insect repellent
• Repair kit
• Hiking stick or trekking poles
• Binoculars
• Fishing gear
• Animal identification books, plant keys, geological studies, star charts or other guides

Source: Packing checklists for camping trips – Boys' Life magazine - http://boyslife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/6976/scout-outdoor-essentials-checklist/

Scout Outdoor Essentials by Wikipedia

As listed in the Eleventh Edition of the Boy Scout Handbook, they are:

• A pocket knife (presumably more than just a knife, a Swiss Army knife for example) can come in handy in a wide variety of situations. It is useful for tasks as large as building an emergency shelter or lighting a campfire with poor fuel, or as small as repairing a damaged backpack.
• A first aid kit can be a lifesaver. Literally. A basic kit for first aid might include adhesive bandages, medical tape, sterile gauze, moleskin, soap, antiseptic, a mouth-barrier device for CPR, and scissors.
• Extra clothing to match the weather. Multiple layers are superior to a single massive jacket, because layered clothing is adaptable to a wide range of temperatures.
• Rain gear is very important. Being wet from rain may result in hypothermia, a potentially fatal condition.
• A flashlight is, of course, important for finding one's way at night.
• Trail food is good for maintaining your energy. Hunger and low blood sugar can interfere with concentration and coordination.
• Water is probably the most important of the Essentials. Dehydration may develop into heat exhaustion and heatstroke. The human body may only survive for a few days without water. Portable water purifiers and water stills may be used to obtain potable water from virtually any source. If a water-source is unavailable the use of a dromedary bag should be considered.
• Matches and/or a firestarter may be used to light fires for heat, or for signalling purposes. (Publicly owned forests in the United States often have lookout stations for forest fires and signal fires.)
• Sun protection may include sunblock, sunglasses, lip balm and a wide-brimmed hat. Used properly, it will prevent sunburn and possibly heat exhaustion.
• Trail maps and compass are probably the most important tools one can carry in case of getting lost, along with the basic skills to use them. In knowledgeable hands, they can be used to determine one's location and the best route to reach another location.

Source: Scout Outdoor Essentials - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_Outdoor_Essentials